Converge MidAtlantic Youth Team exists to assist churches in Converge MidAtlantic in their ministry to youth by: Promoting the importance and value of quality teen ministry in Converge MidAtlantic churches Partnering through networking together in ministry Planning district-wide teen events and ministries Programming leadership training for adult and teen leaders, and by Providing resource information and consulting assistance for Converge MidAtlantic churches.

Dave Scull Associate Minister of Camping and Youth Ministries

Promoting

We desire that every Converge MidAtlantic church makes it a priority to show teens how to know God personally, to connect them with caring Christian friends, to help them grow as followers of Jesus Christ, to challenge them to serve and to encourage them to honor God with their lifestyle. Converge MidAtlantic Youth Ministry Team is dedicated to promoting these values whenever and wherever possible in our district. The following sections detail this ministry strategy.

Partnering

• Cooperative Events – We highly recommend that churches get to know each other and do together what they may not be able to do as well on their own. This can be done through regional events like youth rallies, New Year’s Eve parties, and Super Bowl parties.
• Camp Burton Ministries – We encourage every church to Camp Burton because we own it. Each Summer for the past couple years, Camp has broken attendance records. But of more importance, hearts have been broken for God and lives have been permanently impacted by Jesus Christ.

Planning

• Freeze Fest – is our annual junior high winter retreat at Camp Burton. This event is the first Friday evening through Sunday morning of February. Our purpose is for students to be refreshed spiritually through worship, practical Bible truth and through interaction/fellowship with Christian leaders and friends. You may include 6th and 9th graders at this event.
• White Out – is our annual senior high winter retreat. This event is Sunday evening and all day Monday the third Monday in February, which is President's Day. This event has traditionally started with a youth outreach ministry Sunday night followed by a sleepover. In the past, this has included a ski trip. But skiing may not be included every year. The February 2005 "BLIZZARD" gathering will not be in New York as it has been in the past. It will be held at Camp Burton, and although skiing will not be involved, we have some AWESOME FUN planned! Attendees will head home on Monday evening. Consider coming, and bringing a friend!
• Mission Fest Missions Trip – This is our senior high missions trip opportunity. This event is designed to challenge students who desire to grow in their relationship with God, to see God's ministry in their lives from a different and life-impacting perspective. Other more advanced trips are available from time to time. This trip is offered either through Converge MidAtlantic or through one or more of our district churches, on average of every other year.

Programming

• SLAM – Student Leadership And Ministry training week is our senior high summer event designed to train teens and adults alike in how to share their faith and defend their faith. This leadership development ministry for core students has been held in Washington DC in cooperation with other BGC districts. All churches interested in participating should sign up for registration packets and make preliminary reservations starting in December.
• Youth Leaders Training – Periodically we host or promote youth leader and youth pastor training. Often these training seminars are done in cooperation with Sonlife ministries. Along with our national denominational leaders, we highly recommend Sonlife "Foundations" and "Strategy" seminars for every youth worker in every church in our district.

Providing

• Connecting / Resourcing Services – Often full-time youth pastors have resources and information that is literally at our finger tips. If you need ideas on things like curricula, events, etc., just give one of us a call. We can give you tips on what we are finding most effective in our ministry and brainstorm with you right over the phone.
• Consultation Services – We are also willing to send a youth team representative to your church to meet with your volunteers to help design a quality ministry with the people and resources available to you.

All of these tools have been used by God to bring lost teens to Himself, and to train Christian youths in discipleship and evangelism so they may go forth as lights in a dark world. For more information about youth ministries of Converge MidAtlantic, contact Dave Scull at Camp Burton: 440.834.8984 or dscull@cccchardon.org.